Folding table



June 1, 1937. D. s. Lewis 2,082,013

' FOLDING TABLE Filed May 5, 1935 I l l Patented June l, i9377 UNITEDsTArEs ztsaoi Para erica FOLDING TABLE Application May 3, 1935, SerialNo. 19,541

7 Claims.

My invention relates to tables equipped with mechanisms organized toprovide a pivot and locking means for each individual supporting leg,whereby the latter can be folded for the closed 5 position or extendedin terms of the top for the open position and then secured in either ofthe selected positions.

The primary object of the invention is to provide sturdy hinges ofsimple structure for the ly legs of tables known in the furnitureindustry as folding or card tables.

An important object of the invention is the embodiment of principles,structure and matef; rials to enable the uninitiated user to readily un-15 derstand the operations incident to extending the legs or opening thetable for use, also for folding or closing the legs for storage.

A still further object of the invention contemplates an organization ofmetal and wood parts having superior enduring mechanical properties, thecomponent parts of which can be readily produced expeditiously,assembled and iinished to constitute the nal product.

With the foregoing and other objects, which g'will be revealed as thedescription of the details of the construction proceeds and hereinafterclaimed, it must be understood that changes from the selected embodimentof my inventionI can be indulged without departing from the 30 scope ofmy invention.

Drawing Figure l is a fragmentary elevational View of the upper sectionof a table leg attached to a 3 portion of a top to illustrate the formerin full lines in extended or open position, the dotted lines indicatingthe folded or closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right anglesv Structure 5() Numeral I0indicates the top portion of a leg of a folding table in extendedposition. II is a yokel secured by screws I4 to flange I 2 which withthe top slab I3 is to be regarded herein as the 55 table top. The leg ispivotally mounted on the shaft I 5 which is suitably secured in holes,preferably riveted.

Coincident with the blanking operation for producing part II as shown inFig. 3, tongue III is also cut as indicated. A subsequent operation 5shapes the blank into the yoke as illustrated in Fig. 4 with the tongueI i i having been orientated through 180, and the inner faces I i 2 ofarms I Ill forced into parallel relation to receive the parallel facesof leg i0, said faces iI being corelated to contribute to a desired freebut iirml swinging action. Hole Il@ in tongue III is provided to receivea screw I4 while ear M5 received another screw M. For assembly, the legis iirst equipped with the hardware, dealt with herein,

when it is transferred to the` table top and secured in working relationthereto by screws Irl. Numeral I represents a sleeve driven into the legand has slidably mounted therein a hollowy plunger II in which isdisposed compression spring i8, the bottom endof which is fixed into thereduced portion iS of the sleeve. The arms 200 of 20 are pivoted ontothe leg by shaft 2l which is located in xed spaced parallel relation toshaft I5 to effect a denite operating relation between the yoke andlatch arm. The plunger and spring are provided and located to normallypress surface 203 or arcuate lobe 2EME of the latch arm against-the camor tracky IM or arcuate notches II of yoke II.

In Figs. 1 and 5 lobe 204 is eccentric to axis 20|.of shaft 2I toproduce a wedging action with notch II'I (Fig. 1) which is concentric tosaid axis. A similar vwedging action can be effected by reversing therelation of these faces, i. e. notch 5:5

Ill is made eccentric and lobe Zilli concentric to axis 20| as shown inFig. 7. In each case the travel of the locking lever is stopped by thewedgrsteel are not formed with true surfaces or even consistentirregular ones, all of which is recognized by producers of stamped sheetmetal. When rst assembled spring I8 forces cam surfaces, i. e., one orboth of same, into engagement with arcuate notches II1, usually for asingle tion.

point contact. Repeated operations as in normal usage, develops thecontacts into a long line bearing for one or both cams and then intoenduring surface contacts for both sets of cam locks. While theirregular areas and burred edges of the bearings are Wearing to moredurable surfaces the eccentric relations of the faces of the cams andnotches compensate for all the Wear as Well as irregularities andthereby prevent a loose and rickety condition from developing.

Operation To open the table when legs Ill are lodged in closed positionas indicated by the dotted position in Fig. l, each leg is drawnoutwardly, rotating substantially D on shaft I5 until it reaches thefull line position Where a portion of lobe 204 is forced into notch II'Iby spring i8 and plunger I'I. At this position the leg is firmlysecured, the Wedging action referred to hereinbefore-having beenorganized to prevent any lost motion or looseness and to compensate forWear of the main bearing and the elements constituting the latch.Pressure exerted on latch 20 by the human hand releases the lock whenthe leg can be readily returned to the dotted or closed posi- As thispressure is released the spring forces the lever back against cam ortrack II4, or returns the cam faces '204 to engagement With notchesII'I, which in turn forces the back side of leg I0 (as vieWed'fro'm Fig.2) against the yoke I I and effects the Wedging action mentionedheretofore.

I claim:

l. A folding table comprising a top and a leg swingably connectedthereto by a pivot mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms which embrace correlated faces of the leg, theedge of each arm being fashioned v with a cam face terminating in aconcave notch, a spring pressed locking lever pivoted tov the leg andequipped vvithl a pair of convex cam faces Which cooperate with saidnotches to secure the leg in the extended position, the free end of saidlever being pressed .outwardly by a spring lodged i in said leg.

2. A folding table comprising a topi and a leg swingably connectedthereto by a pivot mounted' in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms which embrace corelated faces of the leg, the edgeof each arm being fashioned With acam face substantially concentric tosaid pivot and terminating ina concave notch.- a spring pressed lockinglever pivoted to the leg and equipped with a pair of individual camkfaces concentric to the pivot ofthe locking lever and each of said facescooperating with its related notch to secure the leg in the extended,position.

3. A folding table comprising a top and a leg swingably connectedthereto by a pivot mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms formed with substantially parallel faces whichembrace corelated faces of the leg, the edge of each arm being fashionedwith a cam face substantially concentric to said pivot and terminatingin an arcuate notch, a spring pressed locking lever pivoted to, alsoembracing the leg and equipped With arcuate cam faces concentric to thepivot of the locking lever and organized to cooperate with said notchesto secure the leg in the extended position, said notches being eccentricto the pivot of the locking lever.

4. A folding table comprising a top and a leg swingarbly connectedthereto by a pivot mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms which embrace corelated faces of the leg, the edgeof each arm being fashioned with a cam face and terminating in a concavenotch, a spring pressed locking lever pivoted to, also embracing the legand equipped with cam faces eccentric to the pivot of the locking leverwhich mesh with said notches to secure the leg in the extendedkposition, said notches being concentric tov said pivotto effect aWedging action between said faces and the notches.

5. A folding table comprisingl a topy and a leg swingably connectedthereto by a pivot mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms formed with substantially parallel faces whichembrace corelated faces of the leg, the edge of each arm being fashionedwith a cam face concentric to said pivot andv terminating in an arcuatenotch, a spring pressed locking lever pivoted to the leg and equippedwith arcuate cam faces eccentric to the pivot of the locking lever andorganized to cooperate With said notches to secure the leg in the.extended position.

6. A folding table comprising a top and-a leg swingably connectedthereto by a shaft mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms which embrace corelated faces of the leg, a springpressed locking lever pivoted to the leg and-having concentric arcuatecam faces formed in the edge of same, the edge of each arm of said yokebeing formed with a cam which terminates in a deep notch to receive thefaces of said lever and form a stop for the latter and thereby securethe leg in the extended position.

7. A folding table comprising a top and a leg swingably connectedthereto by a shaft mounted in a yoke secured to the top, said yokehaving a pair of arms Which embrace corelated faces of the leg, a springpressed locking lever pivoted to the leg and equipped With arcuate camfaces,`

the edge of each arm of said yoke being formed with a cam whichterminates in a deep arcuate notch to receive .only a portion of thefaces of said lever and thereby effect a Wedging action when in theextended position.

DEWEY Si. LEWIS.

